Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy 2021

As Meiko (no actor provided) settles into a taxi ride back from a photo shoot, she’s regaled with tales of her best friend Tsugumi’s blossoming romance. The narrative thread is expertly woven by the chatty cabbie, who shares the juicy details of Tsugumi’s new beau, Kazuaki (no actor provided). Meiko’s curiosity piqued, she becomes increasingly agitated as the taxi hurtles back to an office where her ex-boyfriend, Kazuaki, awaits. A heated confrontation ensues, with Meiko relaying Tsugumi’s whispers about Kazuaki’s inability to move on from his former flame. As their argument reaches a fever pitch, Kazuaki’s emotional outpouring culminates in a heartfelt hug, which Meiko swiftly rejects, fleeing the scene.

In a separate encounter, Meiko and Tsugumi find themselves at a cozy café, where they unwittingly stumble upon Kazuaki lingering outside. Tsugumi, ever the provocateur, beckons him inside, insisting that Meiko offer her expert opinion on his character. Meiko’s demands for Kazuaki to choose between them spark chaos, with Tsugumi making a hasty exit and Kazuaki hotly pursuing her – or so it seems. In reality, this entire scenario unfolds in Meiko’s vivid imagination. As she excuses herself, Kazuaki makes plans to take Tsugumi on an adventure after their café gathering.

Meanwhile, the academic world is turned upside down when a student’s impassioned plea for mercy interrupts French instructor Segawa (no actor provided) and his class. The hapless student, Sasaki, begs not to be failed, fearing it will derail his aspirations as a news anchor. Segawa remains unyielding, and later that evening, Sasaki confides in his friend-with-benefits, Nao – a married mother with a penchant for secrets. As they conspire at her apartment, the news breaks that Segawa has won the esteemed Akutagawa Prize for his novel. Sasaki hatches a plan to create a scandal by coercing Nao into seducing the professor.

Nao seizes the opportunity, entering Segawa’s office and introducing herself as his former student. As they converse, she closes the door behind her – but only after securing it with a gentle click. Her mission: to extract insight on his novel from the esteemed author. Their discussion takes an unexpected turn when Nao reads aloud a sultry passage featuring a character receiving oral pleasure. The two engage in a heart-to-heart conversation, punctuated by Segawa’s thoughtful responses and Nao’s probing questions. Unbeknownst to Segawa, Nao has been recording their entire exchange – and she agrees to send him the audio on one condition: that he “touch himself” while listening to her sultry voice. As fate would have it, Nao accidentally sends the email to “Sagawa” at the university, misspelling the professor’s name in the process.

The seemingly insignificant mistake in a single letter sparks a chain reaction that irreparably alters the trajectory of Segawa’s life, as the misdirected audio file becomes public and her professional reputation is left in tatters. Her marriage to Nao suffers the ultimate fate, with the once-sturdy bond reduced to mere fragments. Years later, the estranged Sasaki (now an editor) and Nao (a proofreader), both living separate lives, cross paths on a bus, where their chance encounter is marked by his lack of remorse for Segawa’s downfall and her growing irritation at his persistent chatter. As memories of the past begin to resurface, Nao’s expression betrays a glimmer of regret for the consequences of that fateful recording. The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Sasaki announces his impending nuptials, prompting Nao to seize the opportunity to leave her mark, quite literally, as she hands him her business card and plants a kiss on his lips before disembarking from the bus.

Episode 3: “Once Again”

In 2019, a peculiar phenomenon besets computers worldwide, causing them to inadvertently reveal their innermost secrets, forcing humans to revert to the antiquated methods of telegrams and snail mail. Natsuko returns to her alma mater for an all-girls high school reunion, only to find herself disconnected from her former classmates, struggling to recall even a single name. Her awkward encounter at the train station is redeemed when she rekindles a long-lost connection with a classmate from her formative years, and the two embark on a journey of rediscovery. As they reminisce about old times, Natsuko’s curiosity gets the better of her, prompting her to ask if her companion has truly found happiness. With an air of intuition, she senses that her friend is poised to unburden herself of profound emotions. The classmate candidly confesses that she has forgotten Natsuko’s name, and the two women are left stunned by the realization that they have been mistaken for former classmates, having attended different schools altogether.

As Natsuko’s cheeks flush with embarrassment, she attempts to conjure up a hasty excuse and make a swift exit. However, Aya’s persistence proves too great, and Natsuko is persuaded to linger. The dam finally breaks, and Natsuko confesses that the woman she mistakenly identified was none other than her first love from college, whose abrupt departure left an indelible mark on her heart. Aya, empathetic and understanding, proposes a unique solution: she offers to embody her own ex-girlfriend from 20 years ago, allowing Natsuko to unburden herself of the multitude of unresolved emotions that have been gnawing at her for so long. As they engage in this poignant role-playing exercise, Aya’s presence provides a safe haven for Natsuko to confront and process her lingering feelings, ultimately finding a measure of catharsis. The tables are soon turned as Natsuko takes on the persona of someone else entirely, playing the part of an old college acquaintance who shared a passion for piano-playing with Aya. This role-reversal proves to be a turning point for Aya herself, allowing her to confront and resolve long-held feelings that had remained dormant for far too long. As they eventually bid each other farewell, Aya changes course, dashing back to catch up with Natsuko just as she’s about to board her train back to Tokyo. With a newfound clarity, Aya reveals that she has finally recalled the name of her old piano-playing companion - a detail that had eluded her for hours. The two women come together once more, their arms embracing in a warm and tender hug, as they acknowledge that they have each been able to make progress in resolving past issues that had long seemed insurmountable.